Infant garment and methods for treating positional plagiocephaly

ABSTRACT

A method for treating/preventing positional plagiocephaly in an infant by providing a support surface, positioning the infant on the support surface, positioning the support surface such that the infant&#39;s head tilts to a first side when the infant is on the support surface, repositioning the support surface such that the infant&#39;s head tilts to a second side opposite the first side when the infant is on the support surface, and repeating these steps such that the infant&#39;s head is not longer susceptible to positional plagiocephaly. The invention also relates to an infant garment with an upper portion having an infant torso covering portion and an inclined member engaged with the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/907,142, filed on Jul. 17, 2001, entitled“INFANT BED HAVING A TILTABLE SLEEPING SURFACE FOR TREATING ANDPREVENTION OF POSITIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY,” by Robert J. Mann, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/429,423, entitled“INFANT BED HAVING A TILTABLE SLEEPING SURFACE AND METHOD OF TREATINGPOSITIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY,” filed on Oct. 28, 1999, by Robert J. Mann,now U.S. patent Ser. No. 6,260,553, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally pertains to infant garments and,more particularly, to infant garments used in conjunction with a torsosupporting element. The present invention also relates to a method oftreating positional plagiocephaly.

[0003] Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a devastating problem withno known cause. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended years agothat babies should sleep on their backs on the assumption that part ofthe SIDS problem might be related to infants suffocating face down intheir cribs. The Back to Sleep program began nationwide, and the resultshave been analyzed. A clear statistical reduction in SIDS deathsoccurred after the program was installed.

[0004] Some time after the program started, doctors began seeing anincreasing number of babies with distorted heads. A number were treatedwith extensive surgery. Later, it became clear that the distortion,mostly flatness of the back and side of the head, was a direct result ofthe sleeping position. The weight of the brain on the thin skull bonechanges the growth rate, and a progressive deformity occurs for thefirst four to six months of life. Once infants have a flat spot on theirskull, the flatness becomes exacerbated due to the inability of theinfants to move their heads once lying on the flat spot due to thegeneral weakness all infants exhibit in their necks.

[0005] Historically, several cultures experienced similar positionaldistortions. The Plains American Indians, by strapping infants to acradleboard, caused uniform flatness of the back of the head. Thepresent condition of positional plagiocephaly causes similar skull andneck distortions.

[0006] Therapeutic programs to correct the distortion developed,including physical therapy and helmet molding or pressure reliefprograms. These programs assist some in the correction of the severalcharacteristic shape presentations.

[0007] To date, only presumptive circumstances can be used as predictorsas to which babies will develop the deformity (large males, twins, andpreemies).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for treating and preventing positional plagiocephaly. An infantgarment of the present invention includes an upper portion having aninfant torso covering portion and an inclined member engageable with theinfant torso covering portion of the infant garment in at least a firstposition and a second position such that when the inclined member is inthe first position, an infant lies in a first position and when theinclined member is in the second position, an infant lies in a secondposition. A method for the prevention of plagiocephaly of the presentinvention comprises the steps of providing an infant garment having anupper torso portion and a releaseably engageably inclined memberreleaseably engaged with the upper torso portion, fitting the infantgarment on an infant having a head, and selectively placing the infantin a first predetermined sleeping position such that the inclined memberforces the infant to sleep with the infant's head in the firstpredetermined sleeping position or a second predetermined sleepingposition such that the inclined member forces the infant to sleep withthe infant's head in the second predetermined sleeping position therebypreventing plagiocephaly.

[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention includes an infantgarment for the prevention of plagiocephaly including an upper portionhaving an infant torso covering portion and an inclined member engagedwith the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment. In yetanother embodiment, a method for treating/preventing positionalplagiocephaly in an infant, comprises providing a support surface,positioning the infant on the support surface, positioning the supportsurface such that the infant's head tilts to a first side when theinfant is placed on the support surface, repositioning the supportsurface such that the infant's head tilts to a second side opposite thefirst side when the infant is placed on the support surface, andrepeating the steps until the infant's head is no longer susceptible topositional plagiocephaly.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises an infantgarment comprising an upper portion for covering the infant's torso,wherein said upper portion includes means for lifting one of theinfant's shoulders relative to the other shoulder when the infant isplaced on its back so as to cause the infant's head to rest at leastpartially on one side.

[0011] Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a methodfor treating/preventing positional plagiocephaly in an infant by (a)providing a support surface; (b) positioning the infant on the supportsurface; (c) positioning at least a portion of the support surface suchthat the infant's head tilts to a first side when the infant is on thesupport surface; (d) repositioning at least a portion of the supportsurface such that the infant's head tilts to a second side opposite thefirst side when the infant is on the support surface; and (e) repeatingsteps (a) through (d) until the infant's head is no longer susceptibleto positional plagiocephaly.

[0012] These and other features, advantages and objects of the presentinvention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled inthe art by reference to the following specification, claims and appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the drawings:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant crib constructed inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mattress for an infant bedconstructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mattress support used in theinfant bed shown in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a front view of a mattress support and mattressconstructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention shown tilted to a first side;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a front view of a mattress support and mattressconstructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention shown tilted to a second opposite side;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a turn handle used totilt a portion of the mattress constructed in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the turning handle taken alongline VII-VII shown in FIG. 6;

[0021]FIG. 8 shows a face plate and aperture for receiving the turncrank shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0022]FIG. 9 shows a wedge forming a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the wedge of FIG. 9 placedon a mattress;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a front view of a partially wedge-shaped mattressportion constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0025]FIG. 12 is a top view of an infant garment constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing theinclined member receiving pouch and alternatively, fastening strips foradhering the inclined member to the infant garment;

[0026]FIG. 13A is an end view showing an infant wearing an infantgarment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention suchthat the infant's head is in a first sleeping position;

[0027]FIG. 13B is an end view showing an infant wearing an infantgarment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention suchthat the infant's head is in a second sleeping position;

[0028]FIG. 14 is an elevated side view of an inclined member used inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an inclined member used inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 16 is a top view of an embodiment of the support surface ofthe present invention showing the substantially permanent cavity forretaining an infant in a predetermined position;

[0031]FIG. 17 is an elevated end view of an infant positioned on thesupport surface of an embodiment of the present invention utilizing arelatively permanent cavity or an at least partially deformable supportsurface, which has been incorporated into a crib; and

[0032]FIG. 18 is an elevated end view of an infant where the supportsurface of an embodiment of the present invention has been tilted andincorporated into a crib and where the support surface utilizes arelatively permanent cavity or an at least partially deformable supportsurface.

[0033]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the interior mechanism for aninfant mechanism for an infant mattress according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0034]FIG. 20 is a transparent perspective view of another embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0035]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a mattress top according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] As mentioned above and explained in more detail below, thepresent invention relates to an infant bed, infant garment, and a methodof treating, preventing, and reducing the risk of positionalplagiocephaly in infants. The method may be practiced using theinventive infant bed and/or garment. The method using a bed is describedfirst followed by a description of the method using the inventivegarment. In general, when using the inventive bed, the method may beperformed in two different ways. The first way involves alternatinglytilting sideways a portion of the mattress surface on which the infant'shead is laid, while maintaining the portion of the mattress surface onwhich the infant's back and shoulders are laid, in a flat, horizontalposition. The second way involves tilting a portion of a mattress underthe infant's shoulders while maintaining the mattress position flatunder the infant's head. By tilting the portion of the mattressunderlying the infant's head or shoulders sideways, the infant willsleep with its head facing down the slope of the tilted mattress portionor facing the direction in which the infant's shoulders are tilteddownward. Because the infant generally lacks the muscles to move itshead to sleep on the other side of its head against the slope of themattress, the infant will not sleep on the other side of its head. Inthis manner, the infant will sleep on one side of its head one night,and sleep on the other side of its head on the next night in acontrolled manner. By alternating the side of the infant's head on whichthe infant sleeps each night (or on some other periodic basis), theinfant will not develop the flat spots in its skull that are symptomaticof positional plagiocephaly.

[0037] The steps of tilting the head portion of the mattress todifferent sides every other night should be continued through about thefirst four to ten months after the infant's due date. Infants that areborn premature or are neurologically impaired may be susceptible to agreater age.

[0038] The method of the present invention may be implemented using avariety of different means. Broadly speaking, an infant bed constructedin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises aflat, horizontal first surface on which to lay the infant's back andshoulders and means for providing and laterally tilting a second surfaceon which the infant's head is laid during periods of rest. The tiltingmeans enables the second surface to be tilted to either of two sides.

[0039] The infant bed may be a crib, cribbette, cradle, bassinet, or anyother structure in which an infant may be placed in a generallyhorizontal position for any extended period of time. An “infant bed,” asused and described herein, would not include an adult-sized bed, andtherefore, typically has a sleeping surface length of approximately fivefeet or less. The means for laterally tilting the portion of the secondsurface may include structures disposed within the crib mattress, withina box spring, within the mattress support, or in any combinationthereof. Alternatively, the tilting means may include a wedge-shapedpillow or foam pad that may be placed on top of a mattress. An exampleof such a wedge is shown in FIGS. 9-11 and described in detail below.The wedge may be repositioned and reoriented each night to cause theinfant to rest its head on opposite sides each night.

[0040]FIG. 1 shows an infant crib 10 constructed according to a firstembodiment. Infant crib 10 is shown in FIG. 1 without the plurality ofside spindles that would normally be provided on such a crib, solely forpurposes of illustration. It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that such a crib would include a plurality of vertical spindlesspaced equally apart surrounding the crib mattress or other structure toprevent the infant from falling out of the crib. Crib 10 as illustratedincludes a frame portion 12 that includes a mattress support frame 14for supporting a mattress 16. Mattress 16 includes two portions 18 and20.

[0041] As shown in detail in FIG. 2, first portion 18 (or body portion)of mattress 16 includes a top surface 24 that is bounded by a first side26, a second side 28 opposite first side 26, a rear end 30, and a frontend 32. Second portion 20 (or the head portion) of mattress 16 includesan upper surface 34 that is bounded on all four sides by a first side36, a second side 38 opposite first side 36, a front end 40, and a rearend 42 that abuts front end 32 of first mattress portion 18. Asdescribed further below, mattress portions 18 and 20 are not physicallyjoined unless by means of a mattress cover or sheets, such that headportion 20 of mattress 16 may be pivoted about a longitudinal axis tolaterally tilt surface 34 from side to side.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, mattress support 14 includes a rectangularmattress frame 44 that extends around the perimeter of mattress 16 andrigidly connects portions of frame 12. Mattress frame 44 includes afront frame member 46, a rear frame member 48, and two side framemembers 50 and 52 extending between frame members 46 and 48. Framemembers 4652 are typically vertically oriented steel plates havingdimensions slightly larger than the mattress, such that the mattress mayfit within mattress frame 44. To support first mattress portion 18,mattress frame 44 further includes a mid-frame member 54 that extendsbetween side frame members 50 and 52 so as to extend vertically upwardbetween mattress portions 18 and 20. Mattress frame 44 further includesa horizontal frame portion 56 that extends horizontally inward from thebottom edge of frame members 48, 50, 52, and 54 so as to provide supportfor mattress portion 18. As conventional in the art, a plurality ofsprings or other support beams (not shown) may extend between horizontalframe portions 56 across the area defined by members 48-54 so as toprovide sufficient support for mattress portion 18. Alternatively, a boxspring may be provided to support mattress 16. In general, mattresssupport 14 supports first mattress portion 18 such that its uppersurface 24 is maintained in a generally flat, horizontal position, aswould be the case for a conventional mattress and mattress supportassembly.

[0043] Mattress support structure 14 differs, however, from aconventional frame structure in that it includes a subframe assembly 58that is pivotally attached to mattress frame 44 for supporting secondmattress portion 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, subframe assembly 58includes a front frame member 60, a rear frame member 62, and two sideframe members 64 and 66. Frame members 60-66 are arranged as verticalwalls and are generally made of steel. Subframe assembly 58 generallyhas dimensions slightly larger than second mattress portion 20 so as toextend around the lower perimeter of mattress portion 20. Subframeassembly 58 is also dimensioned to be slightly smaller than framestructure 44 so as to fit within an opening defined between front end46, mid frame member 54, and side frame members 50 and 52. To supportmattress portion 20 within subframe assembly 58, a horizontal framestructure 68 is provided that extends inwardly from the lower edges offrame members 60-66.

[0044] Subframe assembly 58 is pivotally mounted between front framemember 46 and mid-frame member 54 by means of an axle 70. Axle 70 isgenerally welded or otherwise secured to subframe assembly 58 whilepassing through apertures in frame members 46 and 54, such that axle 70may rotate within those apertures. Axle 70 may also be fixedly attachedto a handle 22 so as to allow a person to pivot and tilt mattressportion 20 using handle 22.

[0045]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the manner by which mattress 16 andmattress support 14 may be combined to provide the requisite tilting ofa portion of the sleeping surface from side to side that allows theinfant's head to be rested on an inclined surface 34 while maintainingthe infant's back and shoulders on a flat horizontal surface 24.

[0046]FIG. 6 shows a turn handle structure for mounting handle 22 andsubframe assembly 58 within mattress frame 44. As shown in FIGS. 6-8,axle 70 extends through an aperture 72 formed in front frame member 46and thereafter is bent approximately 90 degrees, such that a handle 74may be attached. As shown in FIG. 6, axle 70 may be welded or solderedas designated by numeral 76 to front frame member 60 of subframeassembly 58. An additional reinforcement plate 78 or lock nut 80 may beutilized to reinforce the attachment of axle 70 to subframe assembly 58.While axle 70 is generally described as being formed of an elongatedcylindrical rod, it will be appreciated that it may have virtually anyother shape. As described below, however, it is preferable that axle 70is at least round in cross section near the end that passes throughaperture 72 in front frame member 46 so as to allow rotation of axle 70within aperture 72.

[0047] To allow subframe assembly 56 to be moved and then locked into atilted position, a fin 82 extends radially outward from a portion ofaxle 70 for fitting within and engaging respective key slots 84 a-84 c.As best illustrated in FIG. 8, one key slot 84 b would extend verticallyupward without inclination, which would represent the key slot in whichfin 82 should be inserted to maintain subframe assembly 58 in a levelhorizontal position, whereas key slots 84 aand 84 c are inclined suchthat when fin 82 is slid into one of these key slots, subframe assembly58 is tilted into one of the respective positions shown in FIGS. 4 and5. With fin 82 firmly secured within one of slots 84 a-84 c, subframeassembly 58 and mattress portion 20 will be locked in a level or tiltedposition.

[0048] To allow fin 82 to be moved between slots 84 a-84 c whilepreventing accidental unlocking of the position of subframe assembly 58,a compression spring 86 may be provided around rod 70 in between frontframe member 46 of mattress frame 44 and front frame member 60 ofsubframe assembly 58. This compression spring biases frame members 46and 60 apart, thereby drawing fin 82 towards the front surface of framemember 46 so as to pull fin 82 within one of slots 84 a-84 c whenaligned therewith. To limit the distance in which fin 82 extends throughor past front frame member 46, a second fin 88 having a flat surface 90is provided in an opposite side of axle 70 than fin 82 so as to bepulled against the front surface of front frame member 46 and therebykeep axle 70 from extending too far past front frame member 46.Compression spring 86 should therefore have sufficient compressive forceto securely hold fin 82 within one of slots 84 a-84 c while neverthelessallowing a person to grasp handle 74 and exert a sufficient pullingforce to pull fin 82 far enough outside one of key slots 84 a-84 c androtate the handle such that fin 82 will fit within a different one ofslots 84 a-84 c.

[0049] Although the first embodiment has been described as using asingle handle and axle to simultaneously tilt one side of secondmattress portion 20 up/down while tilting the other side down/up, itwill be appreciated that subframe assembly 58 could be hinged orseparated into two side portions and separate handles and axles or othermechanisms could be provided to independently tilt upwards the two sidesof second mattress portion 20. Additionally, virtually any knownmechanism for laterally tilting a mattress may be used to tilt secondmattress portion 20. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,021,335;3,013,281; 3,462,777; and 5,640,729, which disclose various mechanismsfor laterally tilting all or most of a mattress or sleeping surface usedfor adults.

[0050] As mentioned above, the inventive method may further beimplemented using a bed configured to tilt the shoulders of the infantwhile keeping its head on a level surface. To keep the infant fromsliding across the tilted mattress portion, the mattress may becontoured to the shape of the infant similar to that shown in FIG. 16.More specifically, a contoured indentation in the upper mattress surfacemay be provided for one or preferably both the level and tilted mattressportions.

[0051]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the presentinvention. According to this embodiment, a foam wedge 100 having aninclined surface 102, a bottom surface 104, and a side surface 106 isplaced on top of a conventional mattress 108. Thus, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the wedge may provide an inclined surface similar to theinclined surface provided by the second mattress portion 20 of the firstembodiment. To change the direction in which surface 102 is tilted, onewould simply pick up wedge 100 and align side surface 106 with the otherside surface of conventional mattress 108. Wedge 100 should have surface102 inclined at such an angle that makes it difficult for an infant toturn its head once laid with the side of its head on inclined surface102. Wedge 100 should have a width that extends more than half the widthof mattress 108 to ensure the infant does not slide down the inclinedsurface 102 off of wedge 100 and onto the flat portion of mattress 108.On the other hand, wedge 100 cannot be so wide as to provide too largeof a distance between the thickest portion of wedge 100 and the uppersurface of mattress 108. Wedge 100 may be placed under the head orshoulders of the infant.

[0052] Wedge 100 offers the advantage that the structure of the infantbed need not be modified to provide the advantages of the invention andallow for the practice of the inventive method. Further, wedge 100 maybe picked up and moved to any infant bed or other structure in which theinfant may be placed for resting.

[0053]FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated, this mattress structure includes a first mattress portion18 similar to that used in the first embodiment, which has a flat uppersurface 24 that is maintained in a generally flat horizontal position.In place of second portion 20, which is otherwise a flat mattressportion, a wedge-shaped mattress portion 110 may be utilized. Such astructure could be used in a conventional infant crib withoutmodification to the mattress support structure. In this case, thewedge-shaped portion 110 may simply be reoriented every night, such thatits inclined surface 112 is inclined to opposite sides each night. Asshown in FIG. 11, the wedge-shaped mattress portion 110 may have a flatupper surface portion 114 on one side so as to prevent the distancebetween upper surface 24 and the upper surface of wedge-shaped mattressportion 110 from becoming too great near the side edges. A similar flatsurface could be provided at the other end again to reduce the surfaceheight differential between the mattress portions.

[0054] FIGS. 19-21 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated, this mattress structure includes a first mattress portion18 similar to that used in the first embodiment, which has a flat uppersurface that is maintained in a generally flat horizontal position. Inat least the second portion 20, a soft, stretchable or pliable foam orfabric material may be used. A force applying device 400 is positionedunder the second portion 20 to apply an upward force on at least oneportion of the second portion 20 thereby inclining the second portion.The force applying device 400 preferably includes a rotating member 402with a handle 404, a base 406, and at least two upwardly extending forceapplying members 408. In operation one need only turn the handle 404clockwise or counterclockwise to “see-saw” the base and thereby causethe upwardly extending members to apply an upward force to at least twoportions of the second portion 20 thereby resulting in an inclinedsurface.

[0055] Although the structures used to serve as the means for providingand tilting a sleeping surface on which an infant's head is laid havebeen illustrated and described as manually manipulated structures, itwill be appreciated that an automated system could be provided utilizingan electrical motor or the like to automatically tilt the sleepingsurface for the infant's head. Using such automated means would allowthe tilted surface to be tilted to different sides at periodic intervalsthroughout a single night. Alternatively, such automated means could beprogrammed to automatically tilt the bed surface portion to differentsides each night so that the parent or guardian of the infant would nothave to remember to reposition the tilting mechanism each night.

[0056] As mentioned above and explained in more detail below, thepresent invention also relates to a garment used in conjunction with aninclined torso supporting member and a method of treating, preventing,and reducing the risk of positional plagiocephaly in infants. The methodmay be practiced using the inventive infant garment and the inclinedtorso supporting member. In general, the method involves utilizing theinfant garment and the inclined torso supporting member such that theinfant's torso, and thereby its head, is alternated in position basedupon the incline of the torso supporting element. By utilizing thegarment with its inclined torso supporting member, a parent or caretakermay regulate and alternate which side of the infant's head contacts thesleeping surface. Because the infant generally lacks the muscles to moveits head to sleep on the other side of its head against the slope of theinclined torso supporting member, the infant will not sleep on the otherside of its head. In this manner, the infant will sleep on one side ofits head one night, and sleep on the other side of its head on the nextnight in a controlled manner. By alternating the side of the infant'shead on which the infant sleeps each night (or on some other periodicbasis), the infant will not develop the flat spots in its skull that aresymptomatic of positional plagiocephaly.

[0057] As seen in FIG. 12, the infant garment 210 of the presentinvention includes an upper torso portion 212 and a lower limb portion214. The infant garment 210 may be made of any suitable material, butpreferably is made of a soft material including cotton, polyester, orother, preferably fire retardant, fabric material. The infant garmentmay optionally include a inclined member receiving pocket 216 integratedinto or engaged to the back of upper torso portion 212 of the infantgarment 210. The inclined member receiving pocket 216 receives theinclined member 218. In an alternative embodiment, a fastening system,such as, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, zipper(s), or anotherfastening material, may be used to engage the inclined member receivingpocket or the inclined member itself to the infant garment. Velcrog®brand hook and loop fasteners are the most preferred fastening system.

[0058] In another embodiment, the inclined member receiving pocket 216is unnecessary as the inclined member is directly fastened to the infantgarment 210 by any one of the fastening systems outlined above. FIG. 12shows the use of a hook and loop or other fastening system 220, inphantom, to engage the inclined member to the infant garment. Thelocation of the fastening system is not essential to the invention, butthe inclined member preferably should be releaseably, but securelyengaged to the infant garment whether the inclined member is directlyengaged to the garment or the inclined member receiving pocket isutilized.

[0059] The inclined member may alternatively be more permanently sewninto the garment and then used in conjunction with one or more similargarments providing opposite inclination angles.

[0060] The method of the present invention may be implemented using avariety of different means. The infant garment provides an inclinedsupport surface under the upper torso of the infant. Next, the adultselectively places the infant in at sleeping position such that theinclined member forces the infant to sleep with the infant's head in afirst sleeping position (FIG. 13A). Prior to a subsequent sleepingperiod, the inclined member may be disengaged with the infant garmentand reengaged in a second position such that the adult may place theinfant in a sleeping position where the inclined member forces theinfant to sleep with the infant's head in a second position (see FIG.13B). The variation in the infant's head position between sleepingpositions prevents plagiocephaly. Significantly, while many successivenights in a first sleeping position are not desirable, it is notnecessary that the sleeping position be alternated between the firstsleeping position and the second sleeping position every time the infantsleeps.

[0061] The inclined member 218 (FIG. 15) need only provide a sufficientincline to raise one shoulder of the infant relative to the infant'sother shoulder to force the infants head into the first sleepingposition or the second sleeping position depending on the angle of theincline employed. The inclined member 218 is preferably manufacturedfrom foam, but could conceivably be manufactured from plastic, wood, ormetal. Foam is most desirable because of its softness. If other hardermaterials are used to construct the inclined member 218, the inclinedmember 218 may be at least partially covered in a soft liner or coveringmaterial, which is preferably a closable pocket to encase the inclinedmember and provide added cushioning material. When such an inclinedmember liner material is utilized, it is separate from the inclinedmember receiving pocket 216, which may be incorporated into or used inconjunction with the infant garment 210. The inclined member receivingpocket should preferably be made of any soft material, most preferably,cotton and like fabrics.

[0062] Although the upper support surface of inclined member 218 isshown as being planar, it could be curved and contoured to a shapecorresponding to the infant's back. Also, although the inclined memberis shown as only engaging the infant's shoulders and upper torso, theinclined member may be of any suitable size to move the infant's head.Accordingly, the inclined member could also engage the infant's neck orhead.

[0063] Moreover, as seen in FIGS. 16-18, the method oftreating/preventing positional plagiocephaly may also utilize a novelsupport surface 300 adapted to retain the infant in a predeterminedlocation on the support surface even when, as shown in FIGS. 17-18, thesupport surface is tilted. The support surface may utilize anessentially permanent cavity 302 or the support surface may itself bemade of a relatively deformable foam or foam-like material that operatesto retain the infant by forming a cavity, which substantially fits theinfant. In this embodiment, the infant's own body weight operates to atleast partially deform the support surface when the infant is placed onthe support surface.

[0064] The above description is considered that of the preferredembodiments only. Modification of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention.Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawingsand described above are merely for illustrative purposes and notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by thefollowing claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw, including the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An infant garment comprising: an upperportion comprising an infant torso covering portion; and an inclinedmember releaseably engaged with the infant torso covering portion of theinfant garment in at least a first position and a second position suchthat when the inclined member is in the first position, an infant liesin a first position and when the inclined member is in the secondposition, an infant lies in a second position.
 2. The infant garment ofclaim 1, wherein the inclined member comprises plastic, wood, metal, orfoam.
 3. The infant garment of claim 1, wherein the infant torsocovering portion further comprises a pocket adapted to receive theinclined member.
 4. The infant garment of claim 3, wherein the inclinedmember releaseably engages the upper torso portion utilizing the pouch.5. The infant garment of claim 1, wherein the inclined member utilizes afastening system to engage the inclined member with the garment.
 6. Theinfant garment of claim 1 further comprising a covering material thatcovers at least a portion of the inclined member.
 7. The method ofpreventing plagiocephaly in an infant comprising: providing an infantgarment comprising an upper torso portion and a inclined member engagedwith the upper torso portion; fitting the infant garment on an infant;and selectively placing the infant in a first predetermined sleepingposition such that the inclined member forces the infant to sleep withthe infant's head in the first predetermined sleeping position or asecond predetermined sleeping position such that the inclined memberforces the infant to sleep with the infant's head in the secondpredetermined sleeping position thereby preventing plagiocephaly.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the inclined member releaseably engages theupper torso portion of the infant garment.
 9. The method of claim 7,wherein the inclined member comprises plastic, wood, metal, or foam. 10.The method of claim 7, wherein the infant torso covering portion furthercomprises a pocket adapted to receive the inclined member.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the inclined member releaseably engages theupper torso portion utilizing the pouch.
 12. The method of claim 7,wherein the inclined member utilizes a fastening system to engage theinclined member with the garment.
 13. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising a covering material that covers at least a portion of theinclined member.
 14. An infant garment comprising: an upper portioncomprising an infant torso covering portion; and an inclined memberengaged with the infant torso covering portion of the infant garment.15. The infant garment of claim 14, wherein the inclined memberreleaseably engages the infant torso covering portion of the infantgarment.
 16. The infant garment of claim 14, wherein the inclined membercomprises plastic, wood, metal, or foam.
 17. The infant garment of claim14, wherein the infant torso covering portion further comprises a pocketadapted to receive the inclined member.
 18. The infant garment of claim17, wherein the inclined member releaseably engages the upper torsoportion utilizing the pouch.
 19. The infant garment of claim 14, whereinthe inclined member utilizes a fastening system to engage the inclinedmember with the garment.
 20. The infant garment of claim 14 furthercomprising a covering material that covers at least a portion of theinclined member.
 21. A method for treating/preventing positionalplagiocephaly in an infant, comprising the steps of: (a) providing asupport surface; (b) positioning the infant on the support surface; (c)positioning at least a portion of the support surface such that theinfant's head tilts to a first side when the infant is placed on thesupport surface; (d) repositioning at least a portion of the supportsurface such that the infant's head tilts to a second side opposite thefirst side when the infant is on the support surface; and (e) repeatingsteps (a) through (d) until the infant's head is no longer susceptibleto positional plagiocephaly.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein thesupport surface comprises the inner surface of a sleeping garment wornby the infant.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the support surfaceis configured and positioned under the infant's torso so as to raise oneshoulder of the infant relative to the infant's other shoulder.
 24. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the support surface is at least a portion ofthe surface of a mattress.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein thesupport surface is the upper surface of a wedge-shaped pad.
 26. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the support surface comprises a infantretention cavity to facilitate retention of the infant in one locationon the support surface even when the support surface tilts.
 27. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the support surface comprises an at leastpartially deformable surface to facilitate retention of the infant in apredetermined location on the support surface even when the supportsurface tilts.
 28. The method of claim 21, wherein the support surfaceis positioned prior to positioning the infant on the support surface.29. An infant garment comprising an upper portion for covering theinfant's torso, wherein said upper portion includes means for liftingone of the infant's shoulders relative to the other shoulder when theinfant is placed on its back so as to cause the infant's head to rest atleast partially on one side.